Seattle-based trumpeter-composer Chad McCullough offers some fresh, thoughtful originals on his fine debut, along with a radically re-harmonized balladic arrangement of the Beatles' "Blackbird." He turns in some warm, lyrical flugelhorn work on the affecting opener, "Three Pillars," which also features an outstanding deep-toned upright solo from bassist Jeff Johnson. The uptempo burner "Nightmare's Dance" has McCullough blowing some fast, bright trumpet lines over the swinging pulse, with Mark Taylor responding in kind on alto sax by alluding to "Donna Lee."
Other highlights include the wistful waltz "Home" featuring an expressive tenor sax solo from Chicagoan Geof Bradfield, the brooding "Bock's Car" and pianist Bill Anschell's alluring "Dreamscape," arranged for two soprano saxes and flugelhorn.